Mike Connolly brings a rare combination of engineering, operations, quality and people experience to his role as an Organisational Development and Skills Specialist with Made Smarter.
A Mechanical Engineer by background, Mike has spent his entire career in manufacturing, holding roles across Quality, Operations and, most recently, HR. That breadth of experience has given him first-hand insight into both the operational challenges of transforming a manufacturing business and the importance of bringing people with you through change.
One project in particular shaped his approach. Mike was involved in a significant transformation of a manufacturing operation using Lean techniques, including the installation of new machine capacity, reducing downtime caused by waste removal and automating product loading.
Mike said: “What I learned was that the most important aspect of implementing any type of change is defining a strategy for the people who will live and drive that change, and sticking to the strategic plan.
The employees were at the centre of what we were trying to achieve. The delivery of the objectives was down to their participation and collaboration with all of the stakeholders. That project gave me the most satisfaction in my career and shaped how I wanted to focus on positively impacting change.
That experience is also central to what attracted Mike to Made Smarter. Having been aware of the Growth Company and its work supporting businesses to grow and develop, he was particularly interested in Made Smarter's focus on helping manufacturers transform their performance through the adoption of technology while including their people in the change.
He said: “I wanted to be part of the team that helps businesses navigate their own journey and make a difference for the North West. That is an exciting opportunity.
“I've been part of many projects to improve a business and worked with numerous suppliers, so I'm hoping that experience will be beneficial to the team and the manufacturers we support.”
Mike believes technology adoption presents a major opportunity for SME manufacturers. But his experience has also taught him that investment in technology cannot be considered in isolation from workforce development and change management.
He said: “Critical to technology adoption is the development of a more skilled workforce, with people who can continue to challenge the processes they work in and improve them.
“Underpinning both of those objectives is the ability to effectively manage change through a strategic and structured approach.”
Mike sees his role with Made Smarter as that of a facilitator, working alongside manufacturers to help them establish the structures and approach needed to successfully deliver change.
He said: “I want to help guide manufacturers to build the structures that enable their employees to successfully implement technology adoption and be a real support for them throughout their journey.
“For me, success would be seeing businesses successfully implement technology and employees increase their skill levels as a result.”
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